European Commission publishes study on consumer financial services

The European Commission (EC) has published a study on Distribution systems of consumer financial services.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/180425-retail-investment-products-distribution-systems_en.pdf

An executive summary is available here : https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/info/files/180425-retail-investment-products-distribution-systems-summary_en.pdf

The study identifies obstacles that consumers continue to face in the EU when buying investment funds, investment-driven life insurance or private pension products. The EC intends for the study to illustrate the role of EU legislation, such as MIFID II, PRIIPS and IDD, but the research on which the study is based was conducted prior to entry into force of IDD and PRIIPs.